50mm f/1.8 vs f/1.4

[DocFrankenstein]

I want to buy a 50 mm prime as my next lens.

I don't think the 2/3 of a stop alone warrants such a price difference.

However I would pay the money, if the 1.4 feels sturdier. Does it feel like plastic or closer to the L glass? What's the difference in build quality? Is 1.4 plastic or metal? Does it wiggle around like 1.8 or the standard lens?

[hk29]

Here's a brief comparison:

http://www.photo.net/canon/ef50/

[Aylwin]

Yet another 50mm thread? Okay, I'll bite. :D

I started with the 1.8II. Couldn't be happier with it. Price/performance-wise, it's absolutely amazing. It's the exception to the rule: "You get what you pay for." I loved it.

Recently, I upgraded to the 1.4. Visually and build-wise, the 1.8II is a toy while the 1.4 is a lens. The 1.4 is USM. AF is better. If you use MF, 1.4 has a proper focus ring while the 1.8II, well, is just wierd (to me, anyway). The 1.4 has noticeably better colors. The 1.4 has better bokeh (just learned that word not too long ago :D). Plus, a few minor things: it uses 58mm filters (same as my 75-300 IS) as opposed to 50mm(?) on the 1.8II; it comes with a lens hood and pouch; 2/3 extra stop (imo, this is minor compared to the other benefits).

While I don't have the same "I just won lottery!" reaction as I did when I bought my 1.8II, the 1.4 is a solid improvement over the 1.8II. You get what you pay for. Whether or not the price difference is worth it depends I guess on person to person. In my case, I reasoned that the 1.8II had already more than paid for itself. I had some extra cash so I thought if I could afford something better, why not?

[CoolToolGuy]

For me, I wanted the extra 2/3 of a stop, but also wanted the better build quality. The f1.4 has a metal mount like most of the EF lenses, and it does have a more solid feel to it. Add to that the fact that I always had a 50mm f1.4 for each of my film cameras, and the decision was easy.

Hey, Aylwin, the hood and pouch comes with this lens in Japan? I thought that only happened with 'L' glass. I had to pay extra for mine.

Have Fun,

[Aylwin]

Yeah, Rick. It does. It doesn't in the States? Well, lucky me then! :D In fact, my 75-300IS also came with a pouch. Not the hood though I don't think. Or did it? :roll:

Funny though. Wouldn't it be easier to just make the packaging the same everywhere?

And so that I'm not totally off topic, another minor advantage: the 1.4 looks much much better on the camera than the 1.8II does. :P

[CoolToolGuy]

Yeah, Rick. It does. It doesn't in the States? Well, lucky me then! :D In fact, my 75-300IS also came with a pouch. Not the hood though I don't think. Or did it? :roll:

Funny though. Wouldn't it be easier to just make the packaging the same everywhere?


Hmmm, very interesting. I had only heard of 'USA' and 'imported' versions, like B&H carries. It appears there is also a 'Japan' version. I guess its like the Kiss Digital - for the Japan market only.

I buy the hood anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter. But I don't always need the pouch. The pouch that came with my 24-70 L has never left the box, since the 24-70 is the default lens on the Drebel.

Have Fun,

[Vlad]

Has anyone compared sharpness of 50/1.4 vs 50/1.8 at 1.8?
I own 1.8 Mk I, which is quite soft wide open, and thinking about upgrading to 1.4 ...

*V

[Aylwin]

A few interesting links:

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

http://www.seittipaja.fi/data/Pontification/b_Photography/g_Fifty_versus_fifty/a_Fifty_versus_fifty.html